Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos

Thread subject: Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos :: What Storable Whaler To Buy

Posted by fgreen70 on 03/02/10 - 6:15 PM

I would greatly appreciate any advice from experienced Whaler owners. I'm going to purchase my first boat (well, second actually, if you count my 12' folding Porta-Bote), and the more I research the more I come back to getting a classic Whaler.

I plan on using the boat mainly for myself and my son (occasionally my wife and daughter too) in the flats of Key Biscayne and Florida Bay, and offshore to about 6-7 miles on calm days.

My main problem is the limited space at the side of my house (about 7 feet) and the opening in my gate (about 6'9). I'd love to get a classic 17' Montauk center console, but the 6'2" beam worries me (I have no experience with backing up a trailer).

There are also a couple of 15' sport side consoles in my area, with a beam of 5'8", but the fishing and storage space looks more limited.

I'm really not sure what to do. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Edited by Tom W Clark on 03/04/10 - 6:45 AM

Posted by chiburis4 on 03/02/10 - 6:31 PM

Get a classic 17" and you'll never regret it.

Posted by Joe Kriz on 03/02/10 - 6:40 PM

It's hard to beat a 17' if you have the room to store it.

However, it usually isn't the boat that has to fit in the garage or the gate...
It is the trailer.....
Make sure you have enough room to fit the trailer tires and fenders through the gate.

Posted by kamie on 03/02/10 - 6:49 PM

Which boat you get depends on how many times you think your wife and daughter will go out with you. if you want them to go out with you more, get the 17, if you don't get the 15 and plan on getting the 17 in about 2 years when you and your son want to go farther off shore, or go out on marginal days. Also, it is easier and you can take rougher weather if you stand to drive vs sit to drive a boat. The key for you will be the trailer width, not the beam of the boat. You need to find a boat on a trailer, where the boat sits more on top the trailer so the width of the entire package is less than 6'9". As for backing it up, my advice to any new trailer boater is the same. got to your local sports store, and pickup some orange cones the same day you pickup your boat. Then drive to the local mall way in the outer parking lot and practice until you can back your trailer into a single parking space. Do it over and over, drive away in a circle and practice again. There is lots of advice about where to put your hands, what mirrors to look in as you backup, but none of it replaces practice, find what works for you. The other piece of advice when backing the boat and trailer either down the ramp or into a driveway is don't be afraid to cut bait and start over. There are a lot of times where you can try to force things but it never really goes well and in the end your better driving around the block and trying again from a fresh angle. I have had my boat for 6 years now, some days I can back down the ramp with my eyes closed and some days, i should just go play golf.

Posted by Bob Younger on 03/03/10 - 4:15 AM

I have a classic 17 (1963 Eastport). The trailer width is a little over eight feet. I rent a storage shed 10' x 30' which gives me one foot clearance per side plus four to five feet fore and aft. You can get away with about 26' fore to aft but I think the 10' width is about minimal. Backing it is just a matter of practice and patience (a lot of patience). The biggest agony I've had is crushing a trailer light or two; since the lights are LED it is not a cheap happening.

The first time we put it into the shed (a nice rainy day) my 38 year marriage looked finished (my wife was guiding and I was driving). Did I mention patience? Now days I just do it myself, usually one swing, maybe two and it's done. Did I mention practice too?

Posted by Bake on 03/03/10 - 6:08 PM

Get the 17 if at all possible. The 15 is a great boat but with a couple of people and fishing gear it gets full fast. I have been on the big water side of the beach but 6 miles out in a 15 is not going to happen often. Not to say I would not do it but Those flat days are just pretty spread out.

Posted by Alphonse on 03/03/10 - 6:15 PM

Get the 17 and you will be glad you did. Even with two folks aboard it is way more comfortable.

Posted by flippa on 03/04/10 - 6:28 AM

Knock down the fence & get the 17.

Posted by Tom W Clark on 03/04/10 - 6:47 AM

Absolutely get a Montauk, preferably one from the late 1980s and install a swing-away tongue on the trailer.

Posted by HarleyFXDL on 03/04/10 - 9:20 AM

#10

Get the Montauk and rent a slip.

Posted by Mark Finkenstaedt on 03/04/10 - 9:55 AM

#11

Dauntless of course. - I love it. The wife and kids found it more comfortable than the Montauk. I'm NOT starting a war here!
I'd be happy with anything really and would love to redo a 13 etc. It's just being out on the water that counts in something I can really trust with my most precious ones.

I admire so many of the WC community boats that you can't go wrong with BW.

At a ramp some little kid chirped up a bit too loudly. "Dad, look a Boston Whaler - Didn't you want to get one of those? - (Dad had a fine boat) "Yup, I sure do - one day"
This coming from a guy with a perfectly fine boat. People love these things and the lore.

Posted by Tom W Clark on 03/04/10 - 10:11 AM

#12

fgreen70 has a gate that is 6'-9" wide.

A classic Montauk has a beam of 6'-2".

An 18' Dauntless has a beam of 8'.

Which boat will fit through the gate?

Posted by Mark Finkenstaedt on 03/04/10 - 10:51 AM

#13

As "flippa" stated - get a new gate!

After all he's getting into B-O-A-T!

If I had a big fat wife I wouldn't necessarily divorce her to fit in the house. I'd buy a bigger more comfortable house with big fat doors.

Posted by CES on 03/04/10 - 11:29 AM

#14

Mark Finkenstaedt wrote:
If I had a big fat wife I wouldn't necessarily divorce her to fit in the house. I'd buy a bigger more comfortable house with big fat doors.

Hahahahaha, now THAT was funny!!

Posted by nvaccaro on 03/04/10 - 11:34 AM

#15

Careful, Mark, you're sensitive side is coming out! :)

That was great!

Posted by tedious on 03/04/10 - 12:15 PM

#16

Just to point out the (somewhat) obvious, either a 15 or a 17 is fairly easy to push around by hand, at least on flat ground. There's no need to get your undies in a bunch about the narrow gate, as long as the trailer will fit through it at all. Just back the trailer outside the gate, unhook from the tow vehicle, and push 'er through.

On most trailers the maximum width to the outside of the fenders is a fair amount wider than the boat. My sister-in-law has a tiny trailer for her 15, with 8" wheels that actually sit completely under the boat, with minimal width outside the gunnel. I don't know if that type of setup would work for a 17, and in any case I would not want to tow it very far.

Tim

Posted by Tom W Clark on 03/04/10 - 12:41 PM

#17

Most trailers for a Montauk will measure 80" wide overall, fender-to-fender.

So fgreen70 is essentially trying to figure out if he should buy a classic 15 or a classic 17 to fit in his 7 foot wide side yard and the advice given is to buy a new house?

Posted by HarleyFXDL on 03/04/10 - 1:30 PM

#18

In that case Tom, he should buy a big enough house for an 18' Outrage then.

Edited by HarleyFXDL on 03/04/10 - 2:07 PM

Posted by awayland on 03/04/10 - 1:34 PM

#19

I am currently setting up a fully adjustable Long co tilt trailer for mine. You can even move the axle to find the center of gravity. it is 50 inches between the fenders. add about 10 to 12 inches for fenders and lights and total it is about 6 feet to 6 2. The lights stick out the farthest but that could be modified. With this setup it will fit in my garage without a folding tongue.

Posted by Finnegan on 03/04/10 - 4:48 PM

#20

If you can afford it, save yourself from recurring bouts of "two foot itis" and get the 16/17. That's what you need for what you want to do. If you buy a 13 or 15, you will soon want a 16/17 anyway.

Posted by fgreen70 on 03/04/10 - 5:32 PM

#21

Wow - thanks so much for all of the advice! Looking over the replies, I realize I should have included my name in the post (Fred Green) so that people didn't have to always say "fgreen70." I'm glad that I posted the question here, as I was all set to drive 3 1/2 hours down to Key West to buy a 15' sport this Saturday. I now think that I'll try to find a 17' Montauk where the trailer doesn't extend much past the boat. I liked Tim's suggestion of pushing the trailer through by hand after backing it up with the car. I hope that soon I'll be able to post info. about my "new" classic Whaler. Thanks again!

- Fred